Reciprocating jaw nut-cracking machine



Dec. 16, 1947. E. c. BLACKBURN Erm. 2,432,652

RECIPROGATING JAW NUT-CRACKING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 16,'1947. E. c. BLACKBURN ErAL 2,432,652

RECIPROCATING JAW NUT-CRACKING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16,1947. E. c. BLACKBURN ETAL 2,432,652' 4 RECIPROCATNG JAW NUT-CRACKING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1944. 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N Q t .E Blac- Mrz?.

Dec.' 16, 1947.

E.- c. BLACKBURN ETAL RECIPROCATING JAW NUT-CRACKINGMACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1944 @MMS Dec. 16, 1947. E. c. BLACKBURN ETAL 2,432,652

RECIPROCATING JAW NUT-CRACKING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1944- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 my NS Patented Dec. 16, 1947 BECIPROCATING JAW NUT-CRACKING MACHINE Ernest C. Blackburn and Ernest S. Blackburn, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 27, 1944, Serial No. 537,617

(Cl. 14S-12) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for shelling nuts of the type known as the carpenter.

An object of the invention is the provision of ajmachine having groups of pairs of jaws to receive the nuts, with means for moving one of the jaws of each pair into close association with its companion jaws for crushing the shell without breaking the nut meat, with means for exerting pressure on the nuts in a downward manner to rigidly hold them in position during the shell crushing action.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a nut shelling machine in which a plurality of pockets are formed between pairs of crushing jaws, fingers being employed for exerting pressure on the nuts before and at the time the shells are being crushed, together with means for automatically regulating the pressure exerted by said fingers, depending upon the size of each nut with which they engage.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for shelling nuts, in which a p-lurality of spaced movable jaws are adapted to be forced into operative relation with fixed jaws for crushing the shells of the nuts without breaking the nut meat, with means for returning the movable jaws to an inoperative position, the extent of the return movement being variously controlled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for shelling nuts, in which the movement of a crushing jaw cooperating with a fixed jaw is so lcontrolled that the shells will be broken without crushing the nut meats, a plurality of fingers being employed for loosely engaging the nuts between the jaws before the crushing action takes place, with means for holding the fingers in most rigid relation with the nuts just before and during the crushing action, said ngers being moved downwardly at this time to exert pressure on the nuts.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for shelling nuts in which a row of nuts is fed periodically to pockets formed between pairs of fixed and movable jaws, means being employed for reciprocating the movable jaws to force them toward the fixed jaws for crushing the shells of the nuts, said movable jaws being returned to the normal open position, the reverse or return movement of the jaws being controlled in order to vary the open spaces between the fixed jaws and the respective movable jaws when in an inoperative position, a head carrying a plurality of groups of fingers, one group for each space between a movable jaw 2 and a fixed jaw for exerting progressively increased pressure on the nuts before they are crushed and during the crushing action, said head being moved downwardly for carrying the fingers in a similar direction before each crushing action takes place.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in elevation of one end of the machine.

Fig. 2 shows the opposite end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig, 2 with the nut feeding mechanism removed,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a latch operating mechanism for controlling the reverse movement of the carriage carrying the movable crushing jaws.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the crushing jaws in operative relation with the mechanism for controlling the reverse movement of the carriage, upon which are mounted the movable crushing jaws.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view, showing the carriage and the movable jaws and associated operative parts, with the jaws in open position.

Fig. 9 is a similar view with greater detail showing the movable jaws in nut cracking relation with the associated fixed jaws.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary view in perspective of guide bars and movable ngers which exert pressure on the nuts located between the jaws during the crushing operation.

Fig. 11 is a View in perspective of a wedge for retaining the pressure fingers shown in Fig. 9 against movement when said fingers are exerting the greatest degree of pressure on the nuts between the pair of jaws.

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary View in perspective of one corner of the base plate, showing several of the fixed jaws mounted thereon.

Fig. 13 is a view in perspective of a supporting block located between the guides in Fig. 10 and supporting the fingers which exert pressure on the nuts when a nut is located between a fixed jaw and a movable jaw.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 20 designates a table which is supported-by legs 2| and 22 at one end thereof, while legs 23 and 24 support the table at the other end of the machine.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that a bottom 25 is connected to the legs at one end of the machine and the bottom is supported by casters 26 and 21.

A bin 28 for storing the nuts before they are withdrawn to be crushed is carried by the bottom 25 and supported at its outer end by a leg or legs 29.

A base or horizontal frame 30 is supported by L-shaped flanges 3| which are bolted to the table 20. portion of the nut shelling mechanism.

A shaft 32 is driven by a motor 33 maimed.Vv

on the bottom 25. This shaft drives a belt`34 which in turn rotates a pulley 35 .secured to a shaft 36. I'his shaft is mountedin bearings 311 carried by the legs 2| and 24. A pulley 38 se. cured to the shaft 36 drives a belt 39 whichin' turn operates a pulley 40 secured to a shaft V4| which extends the length of the base and is mounted in bearings 42,

A secondshaft 45 is located at right angles to the shaft 4| and is carried` in bearings 45 pro.- jecting from one end of the .base 30. A gear 41 is `.secured tothe shaft 4| and meshes with a gear 48 secured to the shaft 45.

As shown more particularlyinrFigs. 3, 8 and 9, a plurality of xedjaws 50 haveiianges 5| at the lower ends secured to the base'member 35. Each jaw has a vertical groove 52 and a straight vertically disposed side flange 53'andV a curved flangeV 54. At the. 'lower @ed iofthe. groove is formed a V-shaped seat 55 which cooperates with a similarly formed seat in annassociated movable jawA 56.Y Side faces of this -v-shaped seat approximate oneihalf of a frusto-conical member. y

Bars 51 extend along the base member 30 and are bolted as shown at 58 to the flanges 54 of the stationary cracking members, andga'bar 59 is secured to the upper side of these vertical members.

L-shaped brackets Ell-are bolted tothe base member 3U and to the bars 51 so that the jaws 50 are rigidly held in place. Y

The carriage comprising the movable assembly of cracking jaws is mounted forreciprocatory movement'on ball races 5|, 62 and`63 containing bal1s64.

The set of movable jaws B are mounted on a carriage B5 comprising side plates 6B and 61 (Figs. 3 and '7) Yto which they .are secured by bolts 1i (Figs. 8 and9). .theplate 61 having a bottom flange 68 forming partV of the ball races. It will be noted that each of these jaws is also provided with' a vertical groove.69 and a bottom seat 10.

vA roller is mounted in the front end of the carriage 65 and is adapted to be engaged by a cam 16 securedto the shaft 45. When the shaft is rotated the cam 16.will likewise be revolved for forcing the carriage inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. `9. When either portion 11 or 18 of the cam engages the roller the carriage will bemoved to the left in these figures to its farthest extent. Howevenwhen the shallow portion 19 of the cam 16 engages the roller 15 as shown in Fig. 8, the carriage will have been moved to its limit towards the right inFig. 8. In other words, the carriage will have beenreturned to its inoperative or discharge position withthe jaws 56 beingV moved away from the fixed jaws 50.

A bracket 8D is secured to the rear carriage plate 61 (Fig. 3) while a bracket 8| is secured to This base carries substantially the greater.

the base member 3?. These brackets are provided with passages to receive a rod 82 which has a nut 83 at each side of the bracket 80 for maintaining the rod xed to the carriage 55 so that the rod will be movable with said carriage. A compression spring 84 is located between the brackets and 8| so that when the carriage 65 moves in the direction indicated kby the arrow in Fig. 3 said spring will be compressed and will tend to return the carriage in the opposite direction. Nuts 85 are secured to the outer end of the rod 82 and at this point are provided with a. plurality of spring washers 86 which are adapted to engage the bracket 8| on the return stroke ofthgparriage .35, and thus lessen the shock of thezreturn movement.

. Nuts are fed from a bin 28 (Figs. l and 2) by a traveling conveyor generally designated by the numeral 9D which has a plurality of spaced bars 9| disposed at an acute angle to the surface of the traveling conveyor so that as the conveyor is moved through the bin 28 nuts will be picked upk for feeding to the spaces between the jaws 50 and 55. The conveyor 98 and likewise the bars 9| extend substantially the full width of the carriage 55 so that as each bar 9| moves up itwill feed a nut to each pair of jaws.

The bottom portion of the conveyor 9D is supported by an idling roller 92 mounted on a shaft 53 which is located in bearings (not shown but in the bin 28). The upper end of the conveyor is carried by a roller 94 which is secured to a shaft 95. f

A ratchet wheel'SS is secured to the shaft 95 and is adapted'to be engaged by a pawl 91 carried by a pin 580m the upper end ofV a lever 99 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 95, a rod |60 having one end pivotally connected to the pin 98, while the other end is pivotally mounted on a crank pin |5| carried by a crank |52 which is secured to the shaft 4|.

It will be seen by this construction that when the pulley 4E] is revolved through 360 degrees that the pawl 91 will move the ratchet wheel 95 a distance of one tooth so that the feed of the nuts to the jaws will take place once for every revolution of the pulley 48. In other words, as will be presently seen the nuts are fed between the jaws when the movable jaws 55 have been moved to their retracted or open position.

A lip |53 extends the width of the conveyor 98 so that as the bars 9| move over the rollei` 94 they will deposit the nuts on said lips so that the nuts will roll between the open jaws.

Before the movable jaws 55 startl to exert pressure on the nuts to be crushed a pair of fingers H35 are projected downwardly between each pair of open jaws 5B and 55 (Fig. 9) for exerting pressure on the nuts and this pressure is increased to almost the breaking point of the shells before the jaw 56 begins to crack the shells. The fingers |05 are pivotally mounted as shown at |65 on a pair of spaced bars |01 which embrace the lower reduced end |08 of a block |59 and are `pivotally mounted thereon at H0.

Each of the blocks |85 is slidably mounted between a pair of guides and ||2 which are secured to a channel bar forming a head ||3 which extends longitudinally over the sets of jaws. A plate lill is secured to the outer faces of the guides and ||2 for maintaining the blocks |59 in position. It will be noted that there is one block |59 for each pair of ngers |05 so that a block is located above each pair of open jaws 50 and 56.

In conjunction with the downward movement of the head H3 provision Ais made for automatif cally controlling the position of theI blocks |09 on the head to regulate the pressure imparted to the nuts by the fingers' |05. Since the limits of movement of the head are fixed we utilize the travel of its actuating device to automatically set a series of gauges which independently determine the position of the blocks on the head and lock them in the position selected by the fingers |65 as they feel out the size of a nut. To these ends each block is cut away at one side on an angle as indica-ted at H5, leaving its top and bottom edges as bearing surfaces as in dicated at H8. At the bottom of this cut-out and extending laterally therefrom is a flange H6 having an inclined face, which projects through an enlarged inclined slot H1 in the cover plate ||4.

The ange I I6 is in alinement with but spaced a slight distance from an inclined face on the guide IH for the accommodation of a wedge (Fig. 11) which is movable transversely of the head H3.

The wedge |25 is carried on a rod |26 which is movable longitudinally in the notch |2I of guide I H and extends in rear of the head H3 through the aperture |22.

It will be noted there is a wedge |25 and a rod |26 for each one of the spaced blocks |09 and these rods extend through an L-shaped member |21 which is carried by the upper ends of a pair of levers |28 which rock on the shaft |39 (Figs. 2 and 3). A coil spring |29 is received by each rod between the L-shaped member |21 and nuts |30 on the end of the rod. Thus, it will be seen that the spring tends" to move the wedge |25 between the associated block |09 and the guide for rigidly maintaining the block in position when the levers |28 are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. `2, for causing the ingers |05 to exert the maximum pressure on the nuts between pairs of the jaws 50 and 56 as will be presently explained.

The head H3 is supported and reciprocated by a pair of levers |3I which are rigid vwith a shaft |32 mounted in bearings |33 secured to the base member 30. When the levers |3| are escillated by the shaft |32 the head H3 will be raised and lowered.

A prime mover for the head generally designated by the numeral |35 is rigid with the shaft |32 and is provided with a roller |31 which is in engagement with a cam |38 secured to the shaft 4I so that as the cam is revolved the bell crank |35 will be rocked and likewise the levers |3I.

The Vertical levers I 28, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are connected rigidly with a shaft |39 journaled in an intermediate portion of the levers |3I. Therefore, the levers |28 will be moved downwardly with the head H3 or upwardly as the levers |3| are rocked in opposite directions. However, during this movement of theY levers |28 they are also rocked by means of a link |40 which is pivotally connected at I4| with a depending lever |42 which has its upper end secured to the shaft |39. The link |40 is provided with a roller |43 which engages a cam |44 securedto the shaft 4|. By this construction the cem |44 will recirirocate the link |40 and rock the shaft |36- at each revolution of the shaft 4|, so that the levers |28 will be moved to the right in Fig.` 2, as indicated by the arrow for compressing the springs |29 and for forcing the wedges |25 between the sliding blocks |09 and the associated guides 1H.

Thusthe. wedges |25 act to lock theblocks and set the ingers |05 in feeling position, which they assumed upon engagement with the nut in the respective crusher pocket. The first downward movement of the head brings all of the fingers into engagement with the nuts. If the nuts' are all of the same size then all of the blocks |09 will be on the same level. but if they are only slightly different in size (within the limitations allowed in grading) then said .heads will all stand at different heights and will be locked inthese positions by their respective wedges. Herein we have a complete compensation for nuts of various sizes which is wholly automatic in its operation.-

The outer end of the link |40 adjacent the roller |43 is supported by a roller bearing |45 which is mounted on the base member 30.

We have provided a novel means for control ling the operation of the carriage, which deter mines the extent to which the jaws open to receive nuts (graded to size) and which is adjustable to regulate the crushing stroke applied to them, said control also providing for a full sepa-` ration of the jaws after each crushing operation to permit the discharge of the shells and meat.

A latch member |50 has its free end in position to be engaged by a catch |5I which is secured to the inner plate 61 of the carriage 65. This latch member is adapted to crntrol the distance that the carriage is returned from a cam surface Where it had been previously set by the position 11 of the cam 16 as will be presently explained.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 to 7 in.- clusive, it will be seen that the latch member |50 is supported at oneA end by an eccentric |52 which has an eccentric pin |53 supported by' a bracket |54. A lever |55 is secured to the eccentric pin |53 and an operating rod |56 has a screw threaded connection with the outer free end of this lever so that when the knurled knob |51 is revolved the pin I 53 will be rocked to move the latch member |50 to alter the point at which the stop or catch |5I will engage it. The outer end of the rod |56 is rotatably supported in and held against longitudinal movement by a bracket |5611, secured to the bottom of the base member 30.

A pointer |60 on the eccentric |52 moves over a dial |6| which is graduated with reference to nut sizes, and may be read as indicating the crushing strength being applied to nuts of a given size. By rocking the eccentric through the rod |56 manually the latch member |50 is moved toward or away from the stop I5| for a purpose which will be presently exrlained. The finger moving over the dial indicates the position that the latch |50 will assume.

The latch 50 is moved away from the carriage once every revolution of the shaft 4| by means of a rod |62 which is pivotally connected at |63 and is slidably mounted in a bracket |64 secured to the base member 30. A coil spring |65 1ocated between the bracket |64 and a rigid collar |66 tends to move the latch |50 towards the carriage 65. The cuter end of the rod |62 is provided with a bar |61, which is supported by a pin |68 on a rocker |69 pivoted at |10 on a bracket |1| secured to the base 30. On the outer end of the bar |61 is a fork |12 carrying a roller |13 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam |14 secured to the shaft 4| so that as the cam |14 engages the roller at each complete revolution of the shaft 4|, the rod |62 will be reciprocated and the latch'l50 will be moved out of the` path of the stop on the carriage 65.

. vCounter-balances |15 and |16 are securedto the shafts 4| and 45 for the purpose of equalizing the shock thereto during the crushing stroke applied to the movable jaws 56.

A tray |11V is disposed beneath the bottom of the base member 30 and beneath an opening |18 in :the base member to receive the shells and the nut meats as they are discharged from the jaws periodically.

. Ears |19 depend from the bottom of the tray |11 `and are pivotally connected at |80 to legs |8| formedV of spring metal which are secured as shown at |82 to brackets |83 extending from the legs 22 and 23.

A sprocket |65 on the shaft 45 drives a chain |86 (Fig. 2) and this chain in turn' drives a sprocket |81 secured to a shaft |88. A crank arm |89 engages a strike plate |90 on one of the legs |8| of the shaker apparatus `so that-'the tray |11 which lis'inclined downwardly toward one end where the shells` and nut meats aredischargedis constantlyV` agitated and'serves to separate the shells from the nut meats.

AY damping arrangement, generally designated by the numeral |9| (Figs. 2 and 3), includes a cage lconsisting of a plate |92 supported by rods |93 projecting from the underface of the base member '30,with the bars being secured to said base member. A coil spring |94 has one end seated on the Yplate |92, while the other-'end is in engagement with a washer |95 secured toA a plunger |96 which has its lower end slidably mounted in a passage in the plate |92 and this rodrextends upwardly through a passage in the base member 30. The upper endV of the plunger as shown at |91 is secured to the free end of the lever arm |98 on the shaft |32. This serves to hold the free Yend of the crank arm in contact with the cam |38 and to restore the head ||3 to its normal elevated position after each crushing operation. f

After a cracking operation when the point 18 of cam 16 passes into the position shown in Fig. 8 the carriage 66 is actuated by the spring 84 to move the jaws 56 away from the stationary jaws 50. This allows the cracked nuts to drop into the launder |11. In anticipation of the introduction of successive nuts into the cracking pockets these are positioned according to the graded nut size and with reference to the average hardness of their shells. The carriage 66 is moved to the left bythe point 11 of the cam 16 and as this point leaves the roller 15 the return movement of the carriage is limited by the engagement of the stop |5| thereon with the latch member |50 which has been setto regulate the opening or nut receiving position of the jaws by the adjustment of the indicator |60 on its scale |6|. Thus theV several pockets are adjusted to receive nuts of the selected or graded size.

Thetoperation of the machine is as follows:

Power being applied to the apparatus from the motor'33 causes the continuous rotation of the shaft 4| through the belting connections 34 and 39. The rotation of the crank arm |02 (Fig. 1) through the ratchet connection of the shaft 95 causes the step by step movement of the conveyor 90 and the deposit of nuts onto the lips |03 leading to the cracking pockets between the several pairs of jaws 56 and 56. The rotary motion imparted to shaft 45 through the beveled gears 41 and 48 causes the rotation of cam 16. When the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 8 the carriage 66 is impelled by the spring 84 to open the nut cracking pockets and allow th-e cracked nuts therein to fall out of them. As the cam 16 continues to revolve its point 11 advances the carriage and closes the pockets, but as this point leaves the roller 15 the carriage being again moved toward the right in Fig. 3 opens the pockets to the size determined by the indicator |60, which determines the arresting position of the latch member |50 when the latter is relieved by the cam |14 on shaft 4|. When it is so relieved the latch member is projected by its spring |65 into alinement with the stop |5| on the carriage. The pockets being then in open position the descending nuts lodge therein. The time interval represented by the face 11a of cam 16 is sucient to permit the following actions to occur: As the high point of cam |38 (Fig. 2) on shaft 4| approaches the roller |31 it raises the arm |35 thus oscillating shaft |32 to rock the arms 3| and start the downward movement of the head I3 causing the fingers |95 to crowd the nuts into the bottoms of the crushing pockets. These ngers coming in contact with the nuts adjust the position of blocks |09 on the head H3. As the downward movement of the head 3 commences, cam |44 on shaft 4| operating through rod |40, oscillates the shaft |39 to move the uoper ends of levers |28 carrying frame |21 in the direction toward the left in Fig. 2, thus permitting the wedges |25 to become disengaged from the blocks |09 thereby releasing them. Cam |44 is so timed with reference to the downward movement of head |3 that after the several blocks |69 have become positioned (at or about the time the downward movement of head ||3 is completed) Athe frame |21 will be moved in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 to compress the springs |29 and cause the retraction of the wedges |25, thuslocking the blocks |09 to the head. The pivotal arrangement of the link |06 on which the ngers |05 are carried acts as a toggle causing said ngers to automatically adjust themselves to the contour of the nuts so that the fingers hold the nuts firmly against the bottoms of the pockets thus aiding in the crushing action at the instant when the movable jaws 56 of the several pockets are moved toward their stationary jaws 50 by the point 18 of cam 16 coming into engagement with the roller 15. After the completion of the crushing stroke just described the low point 19 of cam 16 arrives in the position shown in Fig. 8 whereupon the carriage 66 again moves to the right in Fig. 8 to the full extent of its movement to permit the discharge of the cracked nuts. At this time the cam |14 has retracted the latch member |59 to the position shown in Fig. 5 out of the path of the stop |5| on the carriage.

Thus, during one complete revolution of the cam 16 approximately one-half of the period of revolution is employed to form the pocket between the jaws 50 and 56 to hold a nut of graded size which is dropped therein at this time by the periodical movement of the conveyor 90,

Continued rotation of the cam 16 causes its portion 19 of smallest diameter to come opposite the roller 15 and the carriage with the jaws will then return to its normally inoperative or full open position. In the meantime the cam |14 (Fig. 3) on the shaft 4| will come into contact with the roller |13 on the rod |62 moving the latch |50 out of alinement with the carriage stop |5| and the broken shells and meats will be discharged into the launder |11.

During the above operations the head IIS will be lowered and then returned to its initial position. At this time the ngers |95 will likewise be lowered in two steps. After the nuts fall into the pockets from the conveyor the head |I3 descends and the iingers will rest on the nuts with the blocks |99 aiding in pressing the ngers |95 on the nuts. At this time the wedge operating rods |26 are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 by the oscillatory movement of shaft |39 imparted to it by the lever |42 which is rocked by the rod `|40 through the action of the cam |44 on the shaft lll'. This rocking of shaft |39 imparts movement to the lever arms |28 which causes compression of springs |29, forcing the wedges |25 into their seats between the blocks |09 and the guides thus locking the ngers |95 in their initial position of adjustment.

Due to the particular construction of the cam |38, Fig. 2, which rocks the arm |35 and through it the arm |3| the head ||3 is at this time lowered still further, thereby causing the n igers to engage the nuts with increased pressure as the jaws close in the crushing stroke.

There is an advantage to be found in the arrangement of fingers Awhich adjust themselves to the contour of a nut in an open cracker pocket in that they insure its lying in the bottom of the pocket in the first instance and by applying pressure on top of the nutvan equal pressure'therefor is exerted upwardly while the `side walls of the jaws close upon it. This engagement of a nut simultaneously on four sides permits its `shell to be cracked with a minimum movement of the jaws and consequently with less damage to the meats.

We claim:

1. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with laterally movable jaws recessed to receive a nut and having side walls and bottoms extending laterally therefrom for supporting a nut, of a head located above and movable relatively toward and from said jaws, a linger carried thereon for engaging on top of a nut and forcing it `against the bottoms in said jaws, means for locking the iinger on the head following Asuch engagement, driving devices actuating the head, the nger locking` devices and closing the jaws while the nut is so held.

2. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with laterally movable jaws recessed to provide side walls and having laterally extending bottoms for supporting arnut, of ahead located above and movable relatively toward and from said jaws, a nger carried thereon for engaging on top of a nut and forcing it against vthe bottoms within said jaws, a wedge movable transversely on the head for locking the finger thereon, means for actuating the wedge following such engagement of the nger with the nut, and driving devices timed to move the head toward the jaws and subsequently close the jaws while the nut is so held.

3. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with laterally movable nut cracking jaws recessed to receive a nut having bottoms supporting a nut, of a head movable vertically toward and from the jaws, a guide block carried by and movable vertically on the head having a toggle arm jointed thereon, two fingers suspended from said arm for engagement with a nutserving to hold it in engagement with said bottoms, and a locking member for securing the block in its position of automatic adjustment on the head, means for actuating the locking member, and driving devices sequentially moving the head, the actuating means and closing the jaws into cracking position.

4, In a nut cracking machine, the combination with a pair of laterallymovable nut cracking jaws recessed to receive a nut and having bottoms, a cross head located above and Vmovable vertical.- ly relatively to the jaws, and a finger movatly mounted on sadhead for engaging and holding a nut against said bottoms, of means for locking the finger ,on the head in such holding position, an actuator operating to release such means during the descent of the head and to subsequently secure `the nnger to the head, and driving devices for operating the head subsequent to applying pressure on the nut and closing the jaws into cracking position.

5. In a nut Acracking machine the combination with a pair of nut cracking jaws one of which is stationary, the other movable, Vsaid jaws being recessed and having bottoms, a movable head extending over the jaws and carrying a nger adapted to engage a nut and hold it in cracking engagement with the bottoms .in said jaws, of a lever arm attached to the head, a cam for operating the head toward and from said jaws, a cam for moving the .movable jaw into cracking position with the stationary jaw and means for lrotating said .cams in timed VKrelation to actuate the head to rst position a nut and secure it in the jaws and subsequently crack it.V

6. In a nut cracking machine, lthe combination with a plurality of pairs of recessed jaws each having side walls and bottoms extending laterally toward each other for supporting a nut, one ofthe jaws of veach 4pair being stationary, the other movable, a horizontally movable carriage carrying the several movable jaws and means normally acting in a direction to operate the carriage to `move the jaws thereon into nut discharging position, of a cam acting on the carriage in three positions, first `to allow the jaws to open, second to close them together from the discharge position and third to `close them into cracking position, an adjustable latch controlling the carriage in its movement away from the closed .position of the jaws and .serving to hold them apart a distance to receive nuts of a selected size, and a `trip for moving the latch into an inoperative position upon the completion Vof the `movement of the jaws into the cracking position.

'7. Ina nut cracking machine, the combination with a frame, a horizontally movable carriage thereon, a pair of recessed jaws having bottoms, one of said jaws being supported on `the frame, the other on the carriage, and means acting on the carriagenormally impelling it to separate the jaws into a nut discharging position, of means for moving Athe carriage to close the jaws together in two successive movements, one being a crushing movement, astop on the carriage, a lretaining latch member positioned toengage said stop to limit thewseparation ofthe jaws lfollowing their release from the rst closing movement, means for varying .the position ofthe retaining latch member relatively to the movement of the carriage in accordance `with given sizes of nuts to be received between said jaws and a rtrip for lifting the latch member out ofthe path of the stop operated simultaneously with kthe second movement of the carriage tto Ypermit it to move into the nut discharging position.

8. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with a pair of recessed jaws having bottoms for supporting a nut, a cam controlling the movement of the jaws toward each other into rst a free position to permit subsequent setting and second for cracking a nut, and means normally acting in opposition to the cam to separate the jaws into nut discharging position, of a vertically movable head located above the jaws, a block movable independently thereon carrying a nut engaging finger, a member movable transversely of thehead and block for locking the latter when the nger has pressed a nut against the bottom of the jaws, a pivoted lever for actuating said member, cams for moving the head toward and from the jaws and oscillating the lever relatively to the movement of the head both timed in relation to the jaw operating cam, an adjustable stop mechanism for limiting the separating movement of the jaws for the reception of nuts of selected sizes following their release from the free position and a trip serving to render such mechanism inoperative to allow their opening into the discharge position upon their release from the cracking position.

9. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with a pair of recessed jaws having bottoms for supportingva nut, a cam controlling the movement of the jaws toward each' other into a free position to permit subsequent setting and again for cracking a nut, and means normally acting in opposition to the cam to separate the jaws into nut discharging position, of a vertically movable head located above the jaws, a block movable independently thereon carrying a nut engaging finger serving to force a nut against the bot-` toms of said jaws, a transversely operating wedge for locking the block to the head having a tail piece extending in rear of the head carrying a spring, an oscillating lever arm engaging the latter and moving in one direction to release the wedge on the downward movement of the head and swinging in the other direction to seat the wedge when the nger positions a nut in the jaws, means for reciprocating the head and oscillating saidlever in timed relation'to the operation of said jaws, an 'adjustable stop mechanism for limiting the separation of the jaws to form a pocket for the Hreception of nuts of selected sizes following their setting in the free position and a trip serving to render such mechanism inoperative to allow their opening into the discharge position after their movement into the cracking position.

l0. In a nut cracking machine, the combina-` tion with a frame, a plurality of horizontally disposed pairs ofV recessed jaws having bottoms for supporting nuts, one jaw of' each pair Ybeing mounted on the frame, the others'being carried on a reciprocating carriage, avspring for moving the latter to position the jaws thereon in nut discharging position and a cam operating the carriage in the opposite direction to close the jaws together rst in a free operation and second in a nut cracking operation, a fixed stop on the carriage, and a retaining latch member cooperating with the xedstop and'adjustable in the direction of movement of the carriage for limiting the separation of the jaws for vthe reception of nuts of a selected size and a trip for retracting the latch arm following a cracking operation, of a vertically movable head located above4 the jaws, a cam for operating the head, sliding'blocks on the head for each pair of jaws carrying nut engaging lingers, locking members movable transversely of the head and blocks each having tail pieces extending in rear of the head, a crossbar engaging the several tail pieces, an oscillating lever and means for swinging it in one direction to move the cross bar to release the locking members on the downward movement of the head and in the other direction to retract said members to hold said ngers in nut engaging position prior to the cracking operation, and driving devices for rotating the several cams.

11. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with a frame, a horizontally movable carriage thereon, a pair of jaws, one on the frame the other on the carriage and both recessed to receive a nut against a supporting bottom, a cam having two high points for reciprocating the carriage in a direction to close the jaws toward each other, two low points one permitting its movement to open the jaws into nut discharging position the other to open the jaws part way into a nut receivingY position, means for reciprocating the carriage in a direction opposed to the cam, of a stop adjustable to limit the movement of the carriage in the last mentioned direction to position the jaws forthe reception of nuts of given size following the action of one of the high points of the cam and a tripping member for rendering the stop inoperative following the action of the second high point of the cam.

12. In a nut cracking machine, the combination with a frame, a horizontally movable carriage thereon, a pair of jaws, one on the frame the other on the carriage'and both recessed to receive a nut against a supporting bottom, means yieldingly impelling the carriage in one direction to separate the jaws into nutjdischarging position, a cam forfoperating itin the opposite direction to alternately cause the jaw thereon to approach andrecede from its companion jaw, of a retaining member'on the frame-movable laterally toward and awayfrom the carriage for limiting the carriage movementinv the jawseparating direction, andY means Yfor varying the position of said retaining'member in a direction longitudinally of the carriage to regulate the opening betweeen said jaws'for the'reception'of nuts of selected sizes and a'trip--for rendering the retaining member inoperative Y upon alternative reciprocations of the carriage. Y

ERNEST C. BLACKBURN. ERNEST S.f-BLACKBURN.

REFERENCES vCITED The following references are' of record in the le of this patent: A

UNITED sTA'rEv-s PATEu'rs l 

